Derek Martin

Son of William George (1908-1976) and Christina (née Jarvis) (1915-1999).

He got into television as an extra on Z Cars (1962) in 1962 and went on to become a stuntman, performing in many Doctor Who (1963) serials, especially during the action-packed Jon Pertwee era of the early 1970s.

He returned to Doctor Who (1963), this time as an actor, in a small part in Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl: Part One (1977), starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, but his breakthrough was as a corrupt policeman in the controversial Law & Order (1978).

Derek Martin has been in demand as one of the most authentic working class voices in British acting since the 1970s, despite never taking the traditional route of training formally as an actor and performing on stage. He did National Service in the Royal Air Force and was employed in a host of jobs, including digging roads, working in factories, motor racing, professional gambling and working at Smithfield Meat Market.

After an injury on Elizabeth R (1971), Martin decided to retire from stunts and pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

He was considered for the roles of Den Watts and Frank Butcher in EastEnders (1985). Leslie Grantham was ultimately preferred for Den and Mike Reid was cast as Frank when Martin was unavailable for it anyway, having signed up to do King & Castle (1986).

Was in attendance at the funeral of his former EastEnders (1985) co-star Wendy Richard (9 March 2009).

As of 2017 he is the 8th-longest serving actor in the history of EastEnders (1985) (tied with Bill Treacher James Alexandrou, Jake Wood and Jamie Borthwick, and behind only Adam Woodyatt, Steve McFadden, Perry Fenwick, Sid Owen, Rudolph Walker, a tied Mike Reid and Todd Carty, and John Bardon), having played the character Charlie Slater intermittently for 11 years (initially from 2000 to 2011 and then briefly in 2013 and 2016).